Sumit Roy, the personal assistant to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee, was arrested by the West Bengal CID on September 10, 2026, in connection with a land grab case in Salboni. The arrest followed the Supreme Court’s rejection of Roy’s anticipatory bail plea in the case, which involves allegations of illegal sale of government land. The Supreme Court also vacated its earlier order of August 6 that had stayed Roy’s arrest, allowing the CID to proceed with the detention.

The case centers on an alleged land scam in Jhargram, where government land is said to have been transferred through forged documents and with the complicity of local political figures. The CID has been investigating the matter since June 15, when a court in West Medinipur district issued an arrest warrant against Roy. Roy had previously approached the Calcutta High Court and then the Supreme Court for pre-arrest bail, but both courts denied the request. The Supreme Court’s decision to revoke its earlier stay on Roy’s arrest marked a significant development in the case.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari claimed that Roy was arrested from the TMC office at 121 Kalighat Road, where he was allegedly collecting money on behalf of Banerjee. Adhikari accused Roy of being a 'number collector' for Banerjee’s nephew, referring to him as 'Tola Bhatija,' a term used to denote a close relative. However, no official confirmation of these allegations has been provided, and Banerjee has not publicly commented on the arrest or the accusations against his aide.

The prosecution alleges that the transfer of government land involved criminal conspiracy, forgery, and criminal breach of trust. The State government’s solicitor general argued that Roy’s custodial interrogation was necessary to further the investigation. The case is being probed under sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. However, the exact nature of the alleged fraud and the role of other political figures remain unclear.

The TMC has not issued a statement addressing the arrest or the allegations against Roy. The case continues to unfold as the CID investigates the alleged land scam, with the outcome potentially impacting the political landscape in West Bengal. Further details on the extent of the fraud and the involvement of other parties are yet to be disclosed.